Malaysian open suspended; Jaidee leading

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Rain halted the Malaysian Open for the second straight day Saturday with Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee in the lead.

Jaidee was at 9-under-par when play was suspended at the Saujana Golf and Country Club.

Seventeen players were within four shots of the lead.

Tied for second at 8-under were Thaworn Wiratchant, Prayad Marksaeng and Chawalit Plaphol of Thailand, Gary Armstrong of the United States and Sung-man Lee of South Korea. Ireland's Paul McGinley, England's Andrew Marshall and Australia's Marcus Fraser were at 7-under.

"Thongchai is on a run today and everything is going right for him," McGinley said. "He is holing putts and feeling confident, but you have to bob and weave on this course. You have to play smart golf."

Jaidee is trying for his third win in six tournaments. He won the Volvo Masters of Asia and last week's Myanmar Open.

David Garland, European Tour tournament director, said that despite the rain it was hoped the event could be completed on Sunday. It could be extended to Monday if necessary.